Netflix Cancels 'The Boroughs' After One Season Despite Strong Reviews

Netflix has canceled The Boroughs, the sci-fi series from Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer, after just one season. The cancellation comes less than a month after the show's May 21 premiere, surprising industry observers given that a second season writers room had already been opened and the series had maintained positions in Netflix's weekly top 10 rankings.

The Boroughs, created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, starred Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O'Hare, Clarke Peters, and Bill Pullman in a story set in a New Mexico retirement community where residents uncover a dark supernatural threat. While the series received strong critical reviews, its viewership proved inconsistent. It opened with 5.6 million views over its first weekend, climbed to 9.5 million in its first full week, then dropped sharply to 3.7 million the following week, indicating limited long-term audience growth potential.

Netflix's decision to cancel reflects the steep production costs associated with the sci-fi genre, particularly given the series' high-profile cast and extensive special effects requirements. Sources indicate the studio weighed these expenses against the show's soft ratings performance. The cancellation also comes amid broader industry context: the Duffer Brothers recently signed a lucrative film and television deal with Paramount, and The Boroughs was the second paranormal series they produced for Netflix this year, following the limited series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, which also will not continue.

The move disappointed viewers who had engaged with the series during its brief run. Comments on industry reporting expressed frustration with Netflix's cancellation pattern, with some viewers questioning the streamer's commitment to completing original programming. Despite The Boroughs' placement at number 8 among Netflix's English-language television offerings in its final week, the combination of expensive production, declining viewership trajectory, and the Duffers' departure to a competitor proved decisive.

The Duffers remain creatively active through their overall deal at Paramount, which includes an animated Stranger Things project titled Stranger Things: Tales from '85, as well as the aforementioned secret event movie scheduled for theatrical release on November 3, 2028.